SoHi closes season

The Soldotna softball team closed its season by losing 10-0 to host Homer on Tuesday in Northern Lights Conference action. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning due to the 10-run rule.

The Stars close their first season with a 4-8 record, with all those games coming in the NLC.

Homer’s Nyssa Baechler threw a shutout for six innings, allowing just one hit. The hit was by Shelly Barker.

Vanessa Cleveland pitched the first five innings for the Stars, giving up six runs. Shannon Lindley and Annie Gardner pitched in the sixth inning and combined to give up the four runs that ended the game.

Soldotna coach Dave Cleveland said Aundria Cummings had a great game for the Stars on defense, catching everything that came her way in the outfield.

Cleveland said his squad had trouble all year hitting really good pitching.

“One of our goals for next year is to improve our hitting,” Cleveland said.

Cleveland said the team will attempt to do that by playing in Anchorage Softball Association tournaments this summer.

“We have the pitching to be competitive,” Cleveland said. “We’re a first-year program and we all learned a lot of big things. The girls need to focus all the time at this level. They can’t lapse.”

Despite the losing record, Cleveland said this year was a big step forward.

“I appreciate the support we’ve received from everyone this year,” Cleveland said. “I expect improvement next year. I’d encourage people to come watch us play. We’re excited to have a team and to have the program up and running.

“The goal in three to five years is to have a top-notch program that can compete with anybody in the state.”